Diary of a Country Priest
Encyclopedia
Diary of a Country Priest (original French title: Journal d'un curé de campagne) is a 1951 French film
directed by Robert Bresson
, and starring Claude Laydu
. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos
. Published in 1937, the novel received the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française
. It tells the story of a young, sickly priest, who has just arrived in his first parish, a village in northern France. The novel has been translated to English by Pamela Morris and was published the same year as the French original.
Two other French scriptwriters, Jean Aurenche and Pierre Bost had wanted to make film adaptations of the novel. Bernanos rejected Aurenche's first draft, and by the time Bresson got around to the task, Bernanos had died. Bresson said he "would have taken more liberties" if Bernanos were still alive. The film had considerable influences on Martin Scorsese
's Taxi Driver
.
A young priest arrives at Ambricourt
, his new parish. He is not welcome. The girls of the catechism class laugh at him in a prank, whereby only one of them appears to know the Scriptural basis of the Eucharist
so that the rest of them can laugh at their private conversation. His colleagues criticize his diet of bread and wine and ascetic lifestyle. Concerned about Chantal, the daughter of the Countess, the priest visits the Countess at the family chateau, and appears to help her resume communion with God after a period of doubt, but she dies during the following night, allowing her daughter to spread false rumors that the priest's harsh words had tormented her to death. Refusing confession, Chantal had previously spoken to the priest about her hatred of her parents.
The older priest from Torcy talks to his younger colleague about his poor diet and lack of prayer, but he remains unable to focus on doing so. After his health worsens, the priest goes to the city to visit a doctor, who diagnoses him with stomach cancer
. The priest goes to a former colleague who has lapsed and is now an apothecary, and lives with a woman outside wedlock. He dies in the druggist's house after being blessed by him. Two famous lines from the end include "God is not a torturer" (Scorsese's favorite line) and "All is grace."
French Film
French Film is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jackie Oudney and starring Anne-Marie Duff, Hugh Bonneville, Victoria Hamilton, Douglas Henshall and Eric Cantona. The film was shot in Spring 2007 at various locations around London including Waterloo station and the BFI Southbank.-Plot:Two...
directed by Robert Bresson
Robert Bresson
-Life and career:Bresson was born at Bromont-Lamothe, Puy-de-Dôme, the son of Marie-Élisabeth and Léon Bresson. Little is known of his early life and the year of his birth, 1901 or 1907, varies depending on the source. He was educated at Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, close to Paris, and...
, and starring Claude Laydu
Claude Laydu
Claude Laydu was Belgian-born French actor.Laydu was born in Brussels, and had been a theater actor when he was cast as the title priest in Robert Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest in 1950. For roughly the next decade, Laydu worked in film steadily until 1963's Mafia alla sbarra...
. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos
Georges Bernanos
Georges Bernanos was a French author, and a soldier in World War I. Of Roman Catholic and monarchist leanings, he was a violent adversary to bourgeois thought and to what he identified as defeatism leading to France's defeat in 1940.-Biography:Bernanos was born at Paris, into a family of...
. Published in 1937, the novel received the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française
Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
Le Grand Prix du Roman is a French literary award, created in 1918, and given each year by the Académie française. Along with the Prix Goncourt, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary awards in France...
. It tells the story of a young, sickly priest, who has just arrived in his first parish, a village in northern France. The novel has been translated to English by Pamela Morris and was published the same year as the French original.
Two other French scriptwriters, Jean Aurenche and Pierre Bost had wanted to make film adaptations of the novel. Bernanos rejected Aurenche's first draft, and by the time Bresson got around to the task, Bernanos had died. Bresson said he "would have taken more liberties" if Bernanos were still alive. The film had considerable influences on Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
's Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. The film was nominated for four Academy...
.
Plot
Ambricourt
Ambricourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.The commune is the setting of Georges Bernanos's novel Journal d'un curé de campagne 1936 .-Geography:...
, his new parish. He is not welcome. The girls of the catechism class laugh at him in a prank, whereby only one of them appears to know the Scriptural basis of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
so that the rest of them can laugh at their private conversation. His colleagues criticize his diet of bread and wine and ascetic lifestyle. Concerned about Chantal, the daughter of the Countess, the priest visits the Countess at the family chateau, and appears to help her resume communion with God after a period of doubt, but she dies during the following night, allowing her daughter to spread false rumors that the priest's harsh words had tormented her to death. Refusing confession, Chantal had previously spoken to the priest about her hatred of her parents.
The older priest from Torcy talks to his younger colleague about his poor diet and lack of prayer, but he remains unable to focus on doing so. After his health worsens, the priest goes to the city to visit a doctor, who diagnoses him with stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
. The priest goes to a former colleague who has lapsed and is now an apothecary, and lives with a woman outside wedlock. He dies in the druggist's house after being blessed by him. Two famous lines from the end include "God is not a torturer" (Scorsese's favorite line) and "All is grace."
Cast
- Claude LayduClaude LayduClaude Laydu was Belgian-born French actor.Laydu was born in Brussels, and had been a theater actor when he was cast as the title priest in Robert Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest in 1950. For roughly the next decade, Laydu worked in film steadily until 1963's Mafia alla sbarra...
- Priest of Ambricourt - Jean Riveyre - Count (Le Comte)
- Adrien Borel - Priest of Torcy (Curé de Torcy) (as Andre Guibert)
- Rachel Bérendt - Countess (La Comtesse) (as Marie-Monique Arkell)
- Nicole MaureyNicole MaureyNicole Maurey is a French actress, who has appeared in 65 film and television productions between 1945 and 1997. Born in Bois-Colombes, a northwestern suburb of Paris, she was originally a dancer before being cast in her first film role in 1944...
- Miss Louise - Nicole Ladmiral - Chantal
- Martine Lemaire - Séraphita Dumontel
- Antoine BalpêtréAntoine BalpêtréAntoine Balpêtré was a French film actor. He appeared in 52 films between 1933 and 1963.-Selected filmography:* Le Corbeau * Dieu a besoin des hommes * Justice Is Done...
- Dr. Delbende (Docteur Delbende) (as Balpetre) - Jean DanetJean DanetJean Danet , was a French actor, activist, and gay theorist. He appeared in 27 films between 1942 and 1983....
- Olivier - Gaston Séverin - Canon (Le Chanoine) (as Gaston Severin)
- Yvette EtiévantYvette EtiévantYvette Etiévant was a French actress. She starred in Yves Robert's War of the Buttons in 1962.- Filmography :* 1945 : Les Dames du bois de Boulogne de Robert Bresson –...
- Femme de ménage - Bernard Hubrenne - Priest Dufrety
- Léon Arvel - Fabregars